Sexuality and the Economy in China

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Abstract

This publication examines the changing relationships between sex and
money in contemporary China. Factors such as marriage or other
forms of sexual expression still impact upon access to resources,
whilst financial and economic status impacts dramatically upon access
to sex and partners, as well as opportunities for pleasure and sexual
expression. Unspoken assumptions in current national and
international development policies and practices contribute to the
creation of heteronormative economic structures that exclude people
who do not fit within narrow sexuality and gender norms.
The author focuses upon the findings arising from a participatory
workshop ‘Sexuality and Economy’ that took place with a number of
individuals marginalised as a result of their sexual identity. The
workshop was run by Pink Space NGO Beijing and the Institute of
Development Studies Sexuality and Development Programme in
July 2010. The discussion revealed that whilst development policies
and programmes focus on poverty reduction and economic growth,
many people on low incomes still believe that exploring their desires
around sex, relationships and gender expression are just as important
as raising their material standards of living. In parallel, much more
work is needed to ensure that poverty alleviation initiatives address
the needs of people with stigmatised sexualities.